Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5922344 Journal of Insect Physiology 2010 6 Pages PDF
Abstract
This report shows the biochemical characterization and life cycle-dependent expression of Drosophila melanogaster N-β-alanyldopamine synthase (NBAD-synthase or Ebony protein). This enzyme not only catalyzes the synthesis of NBAD, the main sclerotization and pigmentation precursor of insect brown cuticles, but also plays a role in brain neurotransmitter metabolism. In addition to the epidermis expression our immunodetection experiments show the novel localization of NBAD-synthase in different regions of the adult brain, in the foregut of pharate adult and, surprisingly, in the epidermis of the trachea during embryogenesis. These results demonstrate that NBAD-synthase is a versatile enzyme involved in different, previously unknown, time- and tissue-dependent processes.
Related Topics
Life Sciences Agricultural and Biological Sciences Insect Science
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